Alex Cuba's star is rising

On his merry way to the 2016 Grammy Awards, singer-songwriter Alex Cuba returns to St. Albert’s Arden Theatre to give us bootie-bustin’ dose of trendy Cuban-soul-rock music.

The Cuban-Canadian, now touring his 2015 album release Healer, is nominated for the American Grammy Awards in the Best Latin Pop Album category.

The British Columbia-based singer is competing against major heavyweights such as Puerto Rico’s Ricky Martin and Mexico’s Julietta Venegas as well as Spain’s Pablo Alborán and Alejandro Sanz.

Even before setting foot in Los Angeles’ Staples Centre on Feb. 15, Cuba feels he has won.

“To be an independent and to be recognized with the big ones that have powerful organizations behind them makes me incredibly happy,” said Cuba.

Although Martin’s name brand and Alborán’s string of No. 1 hits give them an edge, Cuba has noticed one cool thing.

“My album is the only one that is bilingual.”

Alexis Puentes, the son of respected Cuban guitarist and teacher Valentin Puentes, he moved to Canada in 1999 marrying Sarah Goodacre, his business and life partner with whom he shares three children.

Not only did the Cuban expatriate’s first two albums bring him to the attention of Canada’s musical elite, but after writing more than half of Nelly Furtado’s Spanish-speaking album Mi Plan, his name jettisoned into the American stratosphere.

With five albums to his name, Healer is an incredibly creative endeavour that speaks of Cuba’s entire musical journey blending two cultures.

“Here in Canada we don’t have a real Latin market as in the United States. But I don’t take that as a negative thing. It just makes me more creative in a more universal way, not just a specific niche.”

Recorded at Brooklyn’s Let Them In Studio, Cuba says his entourage booked the space for a steal of a deal.

“They were locked down mixing a record. So they let have us the whole night for $25 an hour. We were in New York for about a week,” chuckled Cuba.

The masters were sent to the much sought-after Joby Baker Studios in Victoria where Cuba made his first cross-cultural leap in English on his self-title album.

“Joby was my co-producer and he’s very talented. I trust his decisions and feedback. The end result was very soulful. It inspired me and I realized I’m still creative.”

He hesitates to slap a descriptive label on Healer.

“Some people hear it as world music. Some people hear it as jazz or Latin. It has many influences – Latin, soul, Cuban, funk. It is my music.”

What makes Healer stand out are the six bilingual duets featuring five Canadian singer-songwriters: David Myles, Alejandra Ribera, Ron Sexsmith, Anya Marina and Kuba Oms.

When Cuba and his wife Sarah initially suggested duets, they were unsure as to the response from other artists.

“Lets not be too ambitious we decided. Let’s ask five or six and maybe we’ll get two or three,” laughs Cuba at the memory.

“We contacted them and everyone said, “Yeah, let’s do it.”

The enthusiasm generated from other artists made the pairing of songs and voices easier.

“Duets don’t always work all the time. You have to select the right voices to the right songs.”

Will Cuba be singing any of the duets when he performs at the Arden? Absolutely, but he’ll be singing all the parts.

Accompanying him at the Arden Theatre on Friday, Jan. 29 is Ian Olmstead (bass), Jake Jenne (drums) and Jose Sanchez (percussion).